So following on from my previous post, I now have power to my 2008 Macbook Pro. I now have the flashing question mark folder image on the screen. I have read all the posts and youtube videos about turning on and holding down the option key to get the machine to boot from USB (where I have a copy of MAC os X), but when I try this I just get the mouse pointer in the middle of the screen and nothing else happens.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Flashing Folder
- Thread starter awdl22125
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That "Transmac" method doesn't always work, unfortunately.
Best is to use an actual Mac to make your bootable USB.
But, try that bootable installer on another Mac. Should show as a bootable drive in the Option-boot picker screen, even on Macs that won't boot to that OS X version.
What version of OS X is supposed to be on your USB drive?
Best is to use an actual Mac to make your bootable USB.
But, try that bootable installer on another Mac. Should show as a bootable drive in the Option-boot picker screen, even on Macs that won't boot to that OS X version.
What version of OS X is supposed to be on your USB drive?
You just need a different Mac -- doesn't have to be a MacBook 
But, assuming that the bootable drive is created properly:
connect the bootable installer to your MacBook.
Shut power off, hold the power button for 5 seconds, until you know it is off.
Reset NVRAM: Press and release the power button, then immediately press and hold Option-Command-P and R.
You should hear a boot chime. Keep holding the same 4 keys until you hear the boot chime 2 more times. Might take up to a minute, just be patient for now...
2nd chime - release the keys, except continue to hold Option. The screen should light up. You should see any bootable drives. If the USB drive is created properly, it should appear. If nothing, even after the NVRAM reset - you need to find another Mac, maybe a friend who has one.
The SATA cable in many older Macbook Pros can be quite easy to damage, even through normal movement when replacing a hard drive, for example. You might consider finding a replacement SATA cable for your MBPro. Not too hard to find, if you decide that you need that part.
And, of course, you should take the bottom cover off, just to make sure that there is actually a drive installed!
But, assuming that the bootable drive is created properly:
connect the bootable installer to your MacBook.
Shut power off, hold the power button for 5 seconds, until you know it is off.
Reset NVRAM: Press and release the power button, then immediately press and hold Option-Command-P and R.
You should hear a boot chime. Keep holding the same 4 keys until you hear the boot chime 2 more times. Might take up to a minute, just be patient for now...
2nd chime - release the keys, except continue to hold Option. The screen should light up. You should see any bootable drives. If the USB drive is created properly, it should appear. If nothing, even after the NVRAM reset - you need to find another Mac, maybe a friend who has one.
The SATA cable in many older Macbook Pros can be quite easy to damage, even through normal movement when replacing a hard drive, for example. You might consider finding a replacement SATA cable for your MBPro. Not too hard to find, if you decide that you need that part.
And, of course, you should take the bottom cover off, just to make sure that there is actually a drive installed!
I'm a making progress with this installation. I bought a bootable usb drive containing El Capitan and it is recognising by the machine, it begins installing the OS, it starts of with 13 minutes to go then progresses until there is one second left, then the machine shuts down. When i restart I get the message "This copy of the install OS X El Capitan application can't be verifie. It may have been corrupted or tampered with during downloading"
It is most likely the date setting which prevents you from installing. You need to set your system to a date after El Capitan came out. In my experience, a date in the second half of 2017 should work.
You change the date in Terminal once you booted into the bootable USB drive:
This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan application can't be verified. It may have been corrupted or tampered with during downloading
Macbook Pro 13" 2015 with OS X Yosemite on board. I've been trying to install OS X El Capitan, but always get the following message: "This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan application can't be
Good luck!
Magnus
Update! I think it was something to do with Apple's authentication certificate which has now expired. I purchased a bootable usb containing "Lion" and this installed perfectly. I now have a working Macbook Pro (well nearly!!). The only glitch is that I do not see a Wifi symbol in the top right corner of the screen and I can only connect to the internet via a cable. I have tried replacing the Wifi card and also installed a USB WIfi adapter but still nothing